Display devices



Aug. 30, 1966 A. BRIGLJA DISPLAY DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. l, 1964 Aug. 30, 1966 y A. BRIGLIA DISPLAY DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 1,v 1964 Zic Plas f'/OM Aug. 30, 1966 A. aRlGLlA DISPLAY DEVICES 4 Sheets-5heet 4.

Filed sept. 1 1964 INVENTOR. ANW/v BP/604 United States Patent O 3,269,521 DlSPlLAY DEVICES Anton Briglia, Queens, N.Y., assignor to Dechar Corporation, Brooklyn, NX., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 393,642 1 Claim. {(Il. 198-158) This invention relates to display devices. It is particularly directed to display devices in which the displayed merchandise is moved.

One object of this invention is to provide a display apparatus of the character described so constructed that the merchandise may readily be withdrawn from the apparatus as the apparatus is operating and the merchandise is being moved by the apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character described in which .a conveyor moves containers open at their upper ends and mounted thereon, continuously, so that merchandise can be placed in the containers or removed therefrom as the conveyor is moving, means being further provided to tilt the containers upwardly and forwardly, as they move upwardly at the front of the apparatus, to facilitate removal or stocking of merchandise, and to straighten the containers as they move down through the apparatus, whereby to permit u-se of greater number of containers, more closely placed together.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in apparatus of the character described, containers which are cut away at the front above the lower ends thereof, to facilitate removal of merchandise therefrom by pulling the merchandise forwardly through the open front of the container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in apparatus of the character described, a conveyor belt with a plurality of containers or baskets pivoted thereto at the upper ends thereof, and guide means within the apparatus engaging the lower ends of said baskets to control the tilt of said containers.

A further objec-t of this invention is to provide in apparatus of the character described, means to guide the sprocket chains of the conveyor, on which the containers are tiltably mounted, integrated with the guides which cause tilting of said containers.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character described, so arranged that the containers with the merchandise displayed and carried therein, are viewable from the front and from the sides between the upper and lower ends of said apparatus, and said apparatus having forward extensions at the upper and lower ends thereof, where the containers pass into and out of the apparatus, respectively.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable apparatus of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall be attractive in appearance, which shall effectively display the merchandise, in which the merchandise shall be easy to load or remove and which shall yet be practical and ellicient to a high degree in use.

`Other objects7 features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment of the invention considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. `1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

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FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a partial view of the structure shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a front vertical view of a guide and its channel attached thereto shown in cross section in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 10 is a rear vertical View of a complementary guide and its channel shown in cross-section in FIG. 7.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates advertizing display apparatus embodying the invention, for merchandise 11 carried in containers or baskets 12.

The apparatus 10 comprises a frame 13. Said frame comprises an upper rear horizontally extending angle iron 14 having a top ilange 14a extending forwardly from the upper end of a rear flange 14b. Said frame further comprises vertically extending rear side angle irons 15. Angle irons 15 each comprises a rear inwardly extending flange 15a from the outer side of which extends forwardly, a side ilange, 15b. Flanges 15b have inclined upper and lower ends 15e, 15d.

A bottom horizon-tal angle iron 17 has a rear flange 17a from the lower side of which extends forwardly, a bottom flange 17h. The outer ends of ilanges 14a, 17a of irons 14, 17 respectively contact the upper and lower ends respectively of flanges 15a and are welded thereto.

Extending forwardly from the upper ends of angle irons 15 are top horizontally and forwardly extending side angle irons 18 each having an inwardly extending flange 18a and an outer downwardly extending ilange 18b. Flange 18h has upwardly and outwardly incl-ined end edges 18e, 18d. The outer ends of ilanges 14h, of angle irons 14 contact the rear ends of flanges 18a of angle irons 18 and are welded thereto. The upper ends of flanges 15a contact and are welded to the rear ends of flanges 18a The rear inclined ends 18e of flanges 18b contact and are welded to the upper inclined end edges 15e of flanges 15b.

A front horizontally extending angle iron 20 has a top rearwardly extending flange 20a from which extends downwardly a front llange 20h. The ends of flange 20a contact and are welded to the front ends of the inner edges of flanges 18a.

Extending down from the front ends of angle irons 18 and from the outer ends of top front angle iron 20, are vertically extending angle iro-ns 21, each having a front inwardly extending ilange 21a, from the outer sides of which extend rearwardly, outer flanges 2lb. Flanges 2lb have upper inclined edges Zic and lower inclined edges 21d. Edges 21e contact and are welded to edges 18d of flanges 18h. The outer ends of flanges 20h contact and are welded to the inner edges of flanges 21a of angle irons 21. The forward ends of flanges 18a contact and are welded to the upper ends of flanges 21a.

Extending rearwardly from the lower ends of angle irons 21 are horizontally extending angle irons 22 having inwardly extending tlanges 22a from which ilanges 22b extend upwardly. Flanges 22b have at their front ends rearwardly and upwardly inclined end edges 22C contacting and welded to edges 21a of flanges 2lb. Said yflanges 22h have at their rear ends, upwardly and rearwardly inclined edges 22d. The lower ends of flanges 21a contact and are welded to the forward ends of flanges 22a.

The rear ends of angle irons 22 extend about half the distance from angle irons 21 to the rear angle irons 15. Extending down from the rear ends of angle irons 22 and are a pair of vertically extending angle irons 23 having front inwardly extending flanges 23a and rearwardly extending louter flanges 23b. The rear ends of flanges 22a contact and are welded to the upper ends of flanges 23a. Flanges 23b have upper upwardly and rearwardly extending upper edges 23e contacting and welded to rear ends 22d of flanges 22b.

Said flanges 23b have downwardly and rearwardly inclined lower end edges 23d disposed above the lower ends of rear angle irons 15.

Extending forwardly from the lower ends of angle irons 23 are horizontally and forwardly extending angle irons 24 having top inwardly extending flanges 24a and downwardly extending outer flanges 24b. The rear ends of flanges 24a contact and are welded to the lower ends of flanges 23a. Flanges 2411 have rear, upwardly and forwardly inclined ends 24C contacting and welded to inclined edges 23d of flanges 24b. Said flanges 24b have front upwardly and rearwardly extending edges 24d.

Extending down from the forward ends of angle irons 24 are angle irons 25 having front inwardly extending flanges 25a in the plane of flanges 21a, and from which outer flanges 25d extend rearwardly. The forward edges of flanges 24a contact and are welded to the upper edges of flanges 25a. Flanges 25a have upper upwardly and forwardly inclined edges 25a` contacting and welded to flanges 24d. The lower ends of angle irons 25 are interconnected by front, lower, horizontal angle iron 26 Ihaving a front upwardly extending flange 26a and a lower extending flange 26b. The ends of flange 26a contact and are welded to the lower ends of the inner edges of flanges 25a.

The lower ends of angle irons 25, and outer ends of angle iron 26 are connected to the lower ends of angle irons 15 and lower rear angle iron 17 by a pair of lower horizontally extending angle irons 27. Angle irons 27 have bottom inwardly extending flanges 27a from which outer flanges 27b extend upwardly. The lower ends of flanges 25a contact and are welded to the front ends of flanges 27a. The ends of flanges 26h contact and are welded t-o the inner front end edges Vof flanges 27a. The lower ends of flanges a contact and are welded to the rear end edges of flanges 27a. The outer end edges of flanges 17b contact and are welded to the rear inner edge yof flanges 27a.

Flanges 27b have front upwardly and rearwardly inclined edges 27C contacting and welded to lower, downwardly and forwardly inclined end edges 25d of flanges 25h.

Flanges 27h have rear, upwardly and forwardly inclined end edges 27d contacting and welded to edges 15d of flanges 15b.

The frame thus has a rear vertical space running the full height of the frame, with top and bottom forwardly extending spaces at the top and bottom of the rear space.

If desired, the bottom, rear, top, sides and the front of the upper and lower forward extensions of the frame may be closed or covered by suitable panels (not shown). However, the lower end of the top extension, the upper end `of the lower extension, the front of the portion of the frame between said extensions, are left open for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Mounted on flanges 27h and 2512 of the frame on one side thereof (right side looking from the front, as at FIG. l), is a bracket 34B having a vertical flange 31 formed with slots 31a to receive bolts 32 fixed to said flanges. Extending from the upper end of flange 31 is a horizontal flange 33 on which is mounted a motor frame 34 supporting a motor 35 provided with an output shaft 36 journalled in said motor frame. The outer end of shaft 36 is also journalled in a bearing 37 mounted on flange 15b of angle iron 15 by means of bolts 37a.

Fixed on shaft 36 are a pair of sleeves 38. On said shaft and between said sleeves is a worm 4G fixed t-o said shaft.

Fixed to the flanges 27b of angle irons 27 are similar, symmetrical angle shaped brackets 41 supporting bearings 42 in which is journalled a horizonal shaft 43 disposed `below shaft 36, at right angles thereto, and crossing a vertical plane through said latter shaft, directly below worm 40. Mounted on shaft 43 and fixed thereto is a worm wheel 44 meshing with said worm 40.

On said shaft and fixed thereto, are a pair of similar, symmetrical sprocket wheels 45 equally from the sides of the frame.

Attached to flanges 23h and 15b at each side of the frame is an angle shaped bracket 43 comprising a flange 49 bolted to said flanges by bolts 50. Extending from flanges 49 are horizontal coplanar flanges 51.

Mounted on each bracket 48 is a bearing block 52 in which is journalled a shaft 53. 0n each shaft 53 is a first sprocket wheel 54 aligned with a sprocket wheel 45, and a second sprocket wheel 55 spaced inwardly of the first sprocket wheel. iEach pair of sprocket wheels 45, 54 are interconnected -by a sprocket chain 56. Brackets 48 are located at a higher level than angle irons 24. Sprocket wheels 54 are considerably larger than sprocket wheels 45 so that speed is reduced.

Aflixed to said flanges 15b and 23b just below the level of angle irons 22, are a pair of similar, symmetrical brackets 60 similar to brackets 48 and supporting a pair of bearing blocks 61 in which are journalled aligned shafts 62. On said shafts 62 are sprocket wheels 63 aligned with and similar to sprocket wheels 55. Each pair of sprocket wheels 55, 63 is interconnected by a sprocket chain 64. Said sprocket chain is interconnected by a plurality of horizontal spaced shafts 66. Containers 12 are Ihinged on said shafts by means of ears 12a.

Fixed to the inner side of flanges 15a of vertical rear angle irons 15 as by welding, at vertically spaced points thereof, are flat plates 67 extending inwardly and located in vertical planes (see FIG. 4). Welded to the inner surfaces of said plates and adjacent the inner ends of said plates, are a pair of similar, symmetrical combination `devices 70 comprising sprocket guides 71 and tilting members 72 for the containers 12, as will be explained hereinafter.

Each device 70 comprises a vertical guide 71 having at its upper end, an inwardly `opening channel through which passes a portion of sprocket chain 64 between sprocket wheels 55, 63. Channel guide 71 comprises web 71a from which extend a front flange 71b and a rear flange 71C.

Welded to the front flange 71h of each channel guide 70 is the tilting member 72. Said member 72 comprises an elongated strip 72a having an intermediate vertical straight portion 72b in a plane parallel to and spaced forwardly of the front flange 71C of the channel and projecting inwardly of said channel. Extending from the upper part of said straight portion 72b is a rearw-ardly offset tongue 72e` welded to said front flange 71e of said channel. Flange 71C terminates at the lower edge of tongue 72C as at 71d. However, web 71a and flange 71h extend down to substantially the lowei end of said straight portion 72b, A bottom rectangular horizontal plate 74 having one edge welded to straight portion, one edge welded to the flange 71C land one edge welded to web 71a (see FIG. 6).

Extending upwardly and forwardly from each straight portion 72b is a curved portion 72d projecting to about and crossing the axis of shafts 62. (FIG. 3). Extending downwardly and forwardly from the lower end of each straight portion 72b is a curved portion 72e extending below level of worm 40 and crossing the axis of shaft 43.

Fixed to the rear surfaces of flanges 23a of angle irons 23 at vertically spaced points, in opposed relation to plates 67, are a pair of similar symmetrical plates 75 projecting inwardly toward each other. Fixed to the inner ends of the rear surfaces of said plates 75 are a pair of similar symmetrical combination guide tilting members 76. Said members 76 each comprises a channel shafted guide portion 77 comprising a web 77a from which extend inwardly a pair of flanges 77b, 77e. The channel opens inwardly and portions of sprocket :chain 64 between sprocket wheels 55, 63 pass therethrough. Said members 76 further comprise tilting members 80 complementary to the members 72. Memlbers 80 each comprises a straight portion 80a parallel to and coextensive with straight portion 72a. Extending from said straight portion 72a is an offset portion 30p from which extends a foot 80e at right angles to said offset portion yand welded to flange 77h. At the upper end of each straight portion 80a is an upwardly and rearwardly curved portion 80rd, the rear end of which is curved down as at 80e and located below the upper end of portion 72d, and forming a channel or passage 81 therewith.

Extending downwardly and rearwardly from the lower end of straight portion 80a is a curved portion 80]L terminating in an upwardly and rearwardly curved portion 80g spaced above portion 72e of member 72, and forming a passage 82 therewith.

At the lower rear outer ends of containers 12 are rotatably mounted, rollers 12b contacting the forward surfaces of tilting members 72, 80.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the rollers 12b contact the straight portions of members 8G. The sprocket chains 64 move in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the cont-ainers 12 are tilted upwardly and forwardly because the lower rollers 12b contact istnaight portions 80a of members 80". Said straight portions 80a are disposed rearwardly of the front runs of chains 64 which pass through channels 77. However, as the chains move, the rollers 12b will pass upwardly and rearwardly through passages 81. The distance of the rollers 12b from shafts 66 is equal to the distance from the tops of the sprocket wheels 63 to the passages 81. As the chains continue to move, the rollers 12b will move into contact with the front surfaces of members 72, and the containers will straighten up as they move down through the apparatus. When said rollers 12b reach the portions 72e of members 72, said rollers will pass through passages 32 and then move against the forward surfaces of members Si), so that once more, said containers are tilted upwardly and forwardly, to factilitate removal of articles 11 therefrom.

Also, due to the tilting, the containers can be closer together. The containers move up between `the angle irons 24 out of the lower forward extension of the frame, and also upwardly between angle irons 22 to enter the upper extension. Between said upper and lower eX- tensions, the containers 12 and the articles 11 disposed at the front of the apparatus can be seen not only from the front but from the sides of the machine.

The containers move slowly enough to permit purchasers to easily remove articles 11 and to permit restocking, without stopping the operation of the machine.

Of course a push button controlled circuit can be provided to stop and start the motor whenever desired.

I claim:

In combination, a pair of similar -coaxial wheels, a second pair of similar coaxial wheels, a pair of spaced belts connecting said rst pair of wheels to said second pair of wheels, means to support said wheels for rotation, means to rotate one pair of Wheels whereby to rotate said other pair of wheels, containers mounted on said belts for pivotal movement about parallel spaced axis, and means to cause tilting of said containers as said wheels rotate said means comprising complementary rear and front members disposed between said belts, said rear members having forwardly inclined portions at their upper and lower ends, and said front members having rearwardly inclined upper and lower ends forming passages with said upper and lower ends of said rear members, and rollers on said containers to contact said members and said rollers being movable through said passages, said upper ends of said members and the passages therebetween being disposed Ibelow the upper ends of said first pair of wheels, and the lower ends of said members and the passages therebetween being located below said second pair of wheels, said belts having front and rear runs, said members being located between the front and rear runs of said belts, and the front members being spaced rearwardly of the front runs of said belts, a greater distance than the rear members are spaced for wardly of the rear runs of said belts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 359,154 3/1887 Howard 198-147 645,279 3/1900 Tucker 211--121 1,643,224 9/ 1927 Shelton. 1,959,926 5/1934 Reich 312--268 EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

R. I. HICKEY, Assistant Examiner. 

